Required Courses

ETHS 700. Fundamentals of Scientific Integrity.

The goal is to provide framework and overview of scientific professionalism and research integrity. The emphasis is transmitting the core principles and virtues to formalize the expectation of what an ideal professional scientist aims for. The topics covered include an introduction to ethics, role obligation of scientists, philosophies of sciences, principles for the practice of science and virtues of scientists. Students will also learn case study analysis using the methodology “Developing a Well Reasoned Response to Moral Problems in Science.” Student will also have overviews and case studies covering the core concepts of responsible conduct of research: data acquisition, management, sharing, and ownership, mentor/trainee responsibilities, publication practices and responsible authorship, peer review, collaborative science, human subjects, research involving animals, research misconduct and conflict of interest and commitment. Students will also learn about how to raise a question of conscience.

BICM 700, 701. Scientific Communication. (1)

Instruction and practice in oral and written scientific communication.

PSPR 702. Fundamentals of Phys/Pharm II. (4-6)

This course is composed of adjoining blocks of physiology followed by pharmacology for cardiovascular/respiratory, renal, endocrine, gastrointestinal and toxicology, antibiotics and immunopharmacology.

BICM 705. Biochemistry I. (4)

This course provides an examination of the basic physical and chemical principles underlying protein structure, protein assembly and interactions, enzyme function, and production and storage of metabolic energy within cells. Contemporary concepts concerning the organization and cellular regulation of metabolic pathways are also presented. P-General and organic chemistry, general biology, or POI.

BICM 707. Biochemical Techniques. (2)

Theory and application of selected important biochemical laboratory techniques. Lectures and problems. P: or C: 691, 705, or equivalent exposure to biochemistry.

MOME 711, 712. Translational Science Seminar Series. (2)

Faculty and students jointly describe their research in a human disease, first in clinical terms and then to follow the development of the understanding of that disease to the molecular level with an emphasis on translational applications. Presentations introduce students to potential preceptors and experimental strategies used to study human disease.  Students present their own to gain experience and professional skills for seminars and national meeting presentations.

 MOME 715. Clinical Molecular Medicine. (3)

This course serves as an introduction to clinical medicine for the PhD student. Students are required to round with medicine and pediatric teams in the intensive care units and to observe pediatric and internal medicine outpatient clinics. They will also observe in several clinical laboratory settings. Students observe and interact with members of the health care team in medical decision-making and serve as a source of basic science information for the medical team.

Note: Students are required to take one of the following courses in statistics:

HES 721. Data Analysis and Interpretation. (3)

This course focuses on the application of basic statistical techniques in the analysis and interpretation of data in scientific research. Topics include descriptive statistics, simple linear and multiple correlation/regression analysis, t-tests, analysis of variance and covariance, and non-parametric statistics.

HSRP 730. Introduction to Statistics. (4)

Introduction to statistical concepts and basic methodologies that are prevalent in biomedical literature. It includes discussion of such topics as descriptive statistics, probability, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing, simple linear regression, correlation, one-way analysis of variance, categorical data analysis, and nonparametric method. 

PSPR 741. Quantitative Methods in Behavioral Science. (2)

Addresses applied statistical approaches within common behavioral research studies.  General focus is on selection of the most appropriate test for research aims and hypotheses as well as computational methods.  Specific topics include power analyses, effect sizes, analyses of variance, analyses of covariance, regression techniques, multivariate statistics, and post hoc testing.

MOME 722. Foundations of Translational Science. (3)

This course builds on the student's basic biochemistry and cell biology knowledge with an intensive examination of human physiology and human disease. A series of case scenarios are examined with the assistance of an MD and PhD facilitator. Cases take students through the patient presentation, physical examination, and diagnostic evaluation with basic clinical material including x-rays, CT/MRI scans, and pathologic specimens. Physiology, pathophysiology, and the molecular mechanisms of health and disease are emphasized in group discussion. Once the diagnosis is established in the course of discussing the case, learning issues are developed by the group centered upon treatment options, their mechanisms of action, the appropriate design of clinical trials to test new therapies, and the research base for future advances in prevention and treatment. Facilitators will assist with student-led discussions. Relevant, current literature is examined.

 MOME 724. Scientific Development and the Business of Science (3)

This course reviews techniques for effective communication of scientific proposals and presentations, both oral and written. The course comprises a series of lectures, student presentations of selected papers, and student preparation of a grant proposal. The objectives of the course are: to effectively formulate, develop, and execute scientific presentations (oral and written); to acquire grant writing skills (e.g. familiarity with format, deadlines, committees, and protocols); to develop critical thinking and the ability to review grants and papers, and to understand the mechanisms of the peer review process. With respect to oral presentations the emphasis is on content organization and connection with the audience. Assignments consist on the presentation and discussion of papers by the students. With regard to written presentations, the emphasis is on grant proposal development. Various faculty members are involved in mock study sections to provide feedback to the students on the actual proposals.

BICM 731. Molecular Biology. (3)

This course provides a survey of the fundamentals of molecular biology. Included are fundamentals of microbial genetics and discussions of nucleic acid structure and mutagenesis, DNA replication and recombination, transcription and control of gene expression and protein translation (1h). The introduction is followed by an advanced treatment of these topics, and discussions of mammalian genetics and immunogenetics with emphasis on current trends in research.

MOME 791, 792. Research (9)

This course involves closely supervised research in various topics in molecular medicine, with a special emphasis on models of human disease, including research in preparation for the doctoral dissertation.

Selective(s).

In addition to the required courses, students in the PhD program must select, in consultation with their advisor, two graduate-level science courses (totaling at least 5 credit hours in 700-level courses). Students are required to complete these selective courses prior to their Preliminary Examination. 

The following WFU graduate programs offer graduate-level courses that would meet this requirement:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Biology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Cancer Biology
• Chemistry
• Comparative Medicine
• Health and Exercise Science
• Mathematics
• Microbiology and Immunology
• Molecular and Cellular Pathobiology
• Neurobiology and Anatomy
• Neuroscience
• Physics
• Physiology and Pharmacology
• Psychology